In the Thicke of it

So, you know that feeling you get when you see the artist or famous person you have a complete and utter crush on on TV or in a magazine? The butterflies fluttering in your tummy, the flushed feeling in your cheeks, the excitement pumping through your veins just at their very sight? Robin Thicke has somehow managed to take that emotion, regardless if it is towards him or not (if you've seen him, frankly, my bets are on him) and infused it into every song on his newest album, Evolution Of Robin Thicke. Three years ago, when Robin (who back then just went by Thicke) was long haired and still awfully cute, he had won the hearts of many (but not quite enough) with his Motown like charm, boyish good looks, and amazing voice somewhere in between Smokey Robinson, Justin Timberlake, and Jamiroquai-only better. In the past few years he's cleaned up, cut his hair, and taken a course in cool school making him all that more dreamy.

The great thing about Robin Thicke is his background. He is the son of Alan Thicke (showing that good looks and great hair run in the family) and he is no one trick pony. Influenced by Stevie Wonder, Prince, and The Beatles, Robin taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve and by the age of fourteen, he could play anything he heard on the radio. At sixteen, with no formal training mind you, Robin began professionally writing and producing music for recording artists like Brandy and Brian McKnight. Over the years he garnered dozens of gold and platinum records with artists including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera.

His single out now, Wanna Love U Girl, is infectious to say the least. This pared down scorcher has Robin 'sing talking' throughout the song and lyrically speaking as if from pages of a diary. Got 2 Be Down, performed with Faith Evans is reminiscent of Motown Lauryn Hill style with his Marvin Gaye influences brightly shining through. His sopranic voice is soothing and soulful on 2 the Sky and Teach U A Lesson. Frankly, Robin could sing his grocery list and girls would melt in droves. His track Cocaine is most certainly an interesting title for a song (hey, maybe it can be the new jingle for that new energy drink?! Maybe not). Shooter, performed with Lil' Wayne is also a stand out track.

Its difficult to pick a bad song out of the whole album, and its a little dissapointing that I can't point out a flaw. That's the beauty of the Album and of Robin Thicke. Not one flaw to be found. Except for maybe a few misspellings in the titles of his tracks, but hey, he's so cool, I'll forgive him.